‘Leadership behaviour accounts for almost 50% of the difference between change success and failure’ – this was the conclusion of a recently published research study conducted by Professor Malcolm Higgs of Henley Management College in the UK. These findings support numerous studies conducted across all types of organisations in looking at the critical nature of leadership to change programmes and organisational success. 

For example, the consulting firm Hay McBer found in a study of 3871 executives, selected from a database of more than 20,000 executives worldwide, that leadership had a direct impact on organisational climate, and that climate in turn accounted for nearly one third of the financial results of organisations. 

The evidence about the importance of leadership to success seems overwhelming and most organisations seem to be convinced by this.  There has been a significant growth in leadership development programmes within organisations. A recent study in the UK reported that 85% of organisations surveyed were running some kind of leadership programme. The challenge for organisations is not whether they need effective leadership but how they can effectively develop leadership capabilities.  

Leadership development is a core element of the OBU MBA programme. Clearly understanding, operations, marketing, human resource management and strategy are vital to be able to contribute to organisational success but, unless you can get buy in and commitment from colleagues and staff to your proposals, then the most effective strategies and ideas may never get implemented.

The Leadership Development module is about leadership rather than being ‘a leader’ so it has relevance for all at a professional or managerial level– both those in formal leadership roles and those having to exercise leadership as a specialist or member of a team.  In the module, you will explore effective leadership behaviours and evaluate your own leadership capabilities.   We provide you with a range of ways to explore what you do and the impact of your behaviour on others– for example, psychometric questionnaires, gathering 360 degree feedback and structured analysis of experiences.   

You will gain insight about effective leadership in a global context through online stimulating discussions in virtual seminars.  Leadership style needs to be flexible, adapting approach both to the needs of the situation and to those being led.   You will have opportunities to explore and reflect upon how this relates to your experience and future aspirations and development. 

At the end of the module you will have developed a clear plan for your leadership development, which is relevant to your specific context and needs. Plans are about building on strengths and addressing key development needs and focus on realistic behaviour change. 

As well as the development plan, you will also have a process for managing your development on an ongoing basis - understanding how to learn from experience and how to use feedback to enhance your understanding of your impact and how to operate more effectively.   This will also enable you to promote and support the development of others. 

Feedback from current and past students suggests that the module provides practical support for leadership development and results in real behaviour changes.   As summed up by one student:

‘I found the module thought provoking and challenging, and ultimately the process of self assessment provided real insights that have already started to help me in ‘real world’ situations’.

This article was written by Barbara Hocking, Deputy MBA Director and module leader for the Leadership Development module of the MBA.

References:

Professor Malcolm Higgs Change and its Leadership: 2006 Research Survey, available from the Rowland Fisher Lexon Consulting website www.rflc.co.uk
Hay McBer research reported in Daniel Goleman Leadership that gets results Harvard Business Review March-April, 2000. 
CIPD (2005) Training and Development Survey (available at www.cipd.co.uk/surveys)